Railway flatcar

ABSTRACT

A railway flatcar for selectively transporting generally cylindrical articles, such as steel coils, or articles having a generally rectangular cross section, such as stacks of flat steel plates or plywood sheets. Load dividers are positioned between the separate articles and separate load support members are arranged between the load dividers for supporting articles having a generally rectangular cross section. The load dividers and separate load support members are movable along the length of the railway car for positioning at selected intervals along the length of the car and the load supports are mounted in such a manner as to be movable under the load dividers for positioning on either side of an adjacent load divider, as well as to be stored beneath a load divider such as desired when cylindrical steel coils and the like are being transported. The floor of the car slopes downwardly from the side sills to the center sill to form a pocket for the steel coils.

United States Patent [72] inventor Walter E. OLeary 3,29l.072 l2/ 1966 Cunningham l05/367 Creve Coeur, Mo. 3.353.506 l l/ i967 Snyder et al. IDS/367 [2n P Primary Examiner-Drayton E. Hoffman [221 FM Attorney-Eugene N. Riddle [45] Patented June I, 1971 [73] Assignee ACF Industries, Incorporated New York, N.Y.

ABSTRACT: A railway flatcar for selectively transporting [54] RAILWAY FLAT-CAR generally cylindrical articles, such as steel coils, or articles 5 Chin, 12 Dawn: a having a generally rectangular cross section, such as stacks of flat steel plates or plywood sheets. Load dividers are posi- 0 105/367, tioned between the separate articles and separate load support 105/369 members are arranged between the load dividers for support- [5 in. CI. in articles having a generally rectangular c oas action The Y 361d 45/00 load dividers and separate load support members are movable 0 Search along the length of the railway car for posifioning at selected 6 3 369 212/10, 22 intervals along the length of the car and the load supports are [56] Rekmces cmd mounted in such a manner as to be movable under the load dividers for positioning on either side of an adjacent load di- UNITED STATES PATENTS vider, as well as to be stored beneath a load divider such as 853,484 5/1907 Taylor 212/22 desired when cylindrical steel coils and the like are being 2,674,208 4/1954 Keller et al. 105/377 transported. The floor of the car slopes downwardly from the 4/ l962 Janda ct al 105/377 side sills to the center sill to form a pocket for the steel coils.

" PATENTEDJUN 119w SHE 1 0F 6 3.581; 674

INVENTOR. WALTER E. O'LEARY Q 2). $74

ll l -II ATTORNEY PATENIEU Jun 1 IHYI SHEET 2 BF 6 RAILWAY FLATCAIR BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Heretofore, flatcars have been adapted for the transport of steel coils, such as shown in U.S. Pat. No. 3,291,072 dated Dec. 13, 1966 and U.S. Pat. No. 3,307,495 dated Mar. 7, 1969. However, these flatcars have not been capable of being easily converted for the transport of articles having a rectangular cross section, such as stacks of steel plates of plywood sheets.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Briefly described, the present invention comprises a railway flatcar adapted to selectively transport generally cylindrical articles, such as steel coils, or stacks of flat sheet materials, such as flat steel-plates. A plurality of load dividers or bulk heads are mounted for adjustable movement along the side sills longitudinally of the car for positioning between the separate cylindrical articles and the separate stacks of flat sheet materiaLA depressed center section of the car as viewed in transverse cross section extends the length of the car to form a pocket or well between the side sills to receive steel coils or the like, with load dividers being positioned between the coils. When articles of generally rectangular cross sections are to be carried, separate load support members are provided to bridge the pocket or depressed center portion and to support such articles thereon. The load support members are likewise adjustable along the side sills longitudinally of the car and are movable beneath the load dividers for positioning on either side of an adjacent load divider. Additionally, the separate load support members may be stored beneath the load dividers when not used such as in the transport of steel coils or other cylindrical articles which fit within the pocket between the side sills.

The invention accordingly comprises the constructions hereinafter described, the scope of the invention being indicated in the following claims.

In the accompanying drawings, in which one of various possible embodiments of the invention is illustrated,

FIG. 1 is a top plan of railway flatcar embodying the present invention with one-half the length of the car adapted for the transport of steel coils and the remaining one-half of the length of the car adapted for the transport of stacks of flat steel plate material;

FIG. 2 is a side elevation of the railway flatcar illustrated in FIG. ll;

FIG. 3 is a section taken generally along line 3-3 of FIG. 2 and illustrating. a lower load support member and an upper load divider mounted on the side sills for sliding longitudinal movement along the length of the car;

FIG. 4 is a section taken generally along line 4-4 of FIG. 2 illustrating the bolster area and steel coils carried in the pocket between the side sills, the load divider and separate load support members being omitted;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary top plan of a load divider mounted on a side sill;

FIG. 6 is a side elevation of the portion of the load divider illustrated in FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is an'end elevation of the load divider illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 6;

FIG. 8 is a section of the releasable locking means for the load divider shown in FIGS. 5-7 illustrating the load divider releasably secured to an associated side sill;

FIG. 9 is a section of the releasable locking means shown in FIG. 8 illustrating the locking means in a released position;

FIG. 10 is a top plan of a load divider with certain parts broken away;

FIG. 11 is a side elevation of the load divider illustrated in FIG. 10; and

FIG. 12 is an end elevation of the load divider illustrated in FIGS. 10 and 11.

Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views of the drawings.

Referring now to the drawings for a better understanding of this invention, a railway flatcar is generally indicated 10. Flatcar 10 includes a pair of trucks generally indicated 12. A generally hat-shaped center sill 14 extends the length of the car and a bolster structure generally indicated 16 adjacent each end of the car as shown in FIG. 4 and including a center plate 18 supported on a subjacent truck 12. Side sills generally indicated 20 extend the length of the car and each includes a vertical web 22, an upper flange 24, and a lower flange 26. Crossbearers generally indicated 28 extend between side sills 20 and center sill 14 as shown particularly in FIG. 3. Crossbearers 28 include transverse vertical webs 30 secured to center sill l4 and adjacent side sills 20, and upper horizontal flanges 31. Vertical transverse webs 30 are connected by a lower connected web 32 extending beneath center sill 14. Crossties indicated at 34 in FIG. 2 are also secured between side sills 20 and center sill 14 for transmitting loads therebetween.

Crossbearers 28 slope downwardly from side sills 20 to center sill 14 to form a pocket or depressed center portion for receiving steel coils and the like generally indicated C. Wooden planks 38 are secured to the upper surfaces of upper flanges 31 of crossbearers 28 and crossties 34 and extend the length of the car on each side thereof to form a floor in the depressed center portion for supporting the steel coils.

To provide a walkway for workmen and the like, and to reinforce side sills 20, an outer box-shaped reinforcing structure generally indicated 40 is secured to the outer surface of vertical web 22 for each side sill 20. Reinforcing structure 40 includes an upper horizontal plate 42 forming a flat surface for a walkway.

Load dividers or bulkheads are generally indicated 44 and have lower projections or legs 46 extending downwardly outwardly of each side sill20. Each projection 46 has an inwardly facing slot 48 receiving flange 24 of the adjacent side sill 20 and forming a guideway along which load divider 44 is movable longitudinally of the railway car. A platen or face 50 is mounted on each side of load divider 44 as shown in FIG. 7 for contacting the load being transported on car 10. If desired, platens 50 may be mounted for in and out movement relative to load divider 44 for maintaining tight engagement with a load. For example, an arrangement similar in function to that shown in U.S. Pat. No. l,206,648 dated Nov. 28, 1916 may be employed for moving platens 50 relative to load divider 44.

Flange 24 of each side sill 20 has a plurality of spaced openings 52 therein for positioning of load dividers 44 at selected intervals. As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, slot 48 of leg 46 is formed between spaced plates 54 and 56 and receives flange 24 therein. A bracket 58 on the upper surface of plate 54 has a locking pin 60 mounted thereon. A lug 62 on a face of pin 60 engages the upper surface of bracket 5% as shown in FIG. 9 when pin 60 is pulled upwardly by ring 63 and rotated. Aligned openings 64 in plates 54 and 56 are aligned vertically with a selected opening 52 in flange 24 and pin 60 may be inserted within openings 52 and 64 as shown in FIG. 8 in locked position.

Referring to FIGS. Iii-12, a movable load support member is indicated generally 66. As shown in FIG. 3, load support member 66 is mounted for movement beneath load dividers 44 in order to be positioned on either side of the load dividers 44. Also, the width of load support member 66 is about onehalf the width of load divider 44. Thus, two load support members 66 may be stored beneath a single load divider 44 in the event it is desired to have the area between adjacent load dividers 44 clear of load support members 66 such as necessary for the transport of steel coils and the like which fit into the depressed pocket between side sills 20. Load support members 66 have outwardly facing slots 66 on each end thereof formed between plates 70 and 72 receiving upper flange 24 of the adjacent side sill 20. Load support members 66 are mounted for movement along side sills 20 in a manner similar to that of load dividers 44. Locking pins 60A fit in openings 52 in upper flange 24 in the same manner as the releasable locking means illustrated in FIGS. 8 and 9.

Thus, load support members 66 may be selectively positioned along the length of side sills and bridge the depressed center pocket of the car. Loads S having a rectangular cross section such as packaged lumber, stacks of steel plates or sheets of plywood, plasterboard and the like, may be supported on the upper surface of load support members 66 as illustrated in FIG. 3.

In view of the above, it will be seen that the several objects of the invention are achieved and other advantageous results obtained.

1 claim:

1. A railway flatcar comprising, a lower floor on the car for supporting lading thereon, outer guide means extending longitudinally of the car adjacent each side thereof, at least two movable load dividers mounted on said outer guide means for selective movement longitudinally of the car and extending transversely of the car, inner guide means extending longitudinally of the car adjacent each side thereof and spaced inwardly of said outer guide means, and a plurality oflower load support members mounted on said inner guide means above said floor for movement longitudinally of the car and for positioning at selected intervals along the length of the car, said plurality of lower load support members being positioned between said pair of load dividers and having upper surfaces forming a separate generally horizontal load support surface between the load dividers and above the floor to support lading thereon, said load dividers extending above the floor and above the separate load support surface for fitting against lading supported on said floor or on said load support members, said load support members being movable along said inner guide means beneath said load dividers in a stored position when lading is supported on said floor between the pair of load dividers.

2. A railway flatcar comprising, a center sill extending the length of the car, a side sill structure extending along each side of the car, a floor sloping downwardly from each side sill structure to the center sill to provide a pocket centrally of the width ofthe car and extending the length of the car to support steel coils and the like, a plurality of load dividers mounted on said side sill structures for selective movement longitudinally of the car and extending transversely of the car, and a plurality of lower load support members between each adjacent pair of load dividers mounted on said side sill structures inwardly of the load dividers for movement longitudinally of the car and extending transversely of the car over the pocket formed by said floor, each plurality of load support members between a pair of adjacent load dividers having upper surfaces forming a separate generally horizontal load support surface between the adjacent load dividers and above the sloping floor to support lading of a generally rectangular cross section thereon, said load dividers extending vertically above said separate load support surface and above said floor for fitting against lading supported on said load support members or said floor, said load support members being movable beneath said load dividers into a stored position when not supporting lading on said flatcar, and movable away from said load dividers in longitudinally spaced relation thereto to support lading on said separate load support surface between a pair of said load dividers.

3. A railway flatcar comprising, a center sill extending the length of the car, a side sill structure extending along each side of the car, a floor sloping downwardly from each side sill structure to the center sill to provide a pocket centrally of the width of the car and extending the length of the car to support steel coils and the like, a plurality ofload dividers mounted on said side sill structures for selective movement longitudinally of the car and extending transversely of the car for fitting against lading positioned on said car, means for releasably securing said load dividers to said side sill structures, a plurality of lower load support members between each pair of adjacent load dividers mounted on said side sill structures inwardly of the load dividers for movement longitudinally of the car and extending transversely of the car over the pocket formed by said floor, and means for releasably securing said load support members to said side 81 structures, the upper surfaces of a plurality of load support members between adjacent load dividers forming a separate generally horizontal load support surface between the adjacent load dividers and above the sloping floor to support lading thereon, said load dividers extending vertically above said separate load support surface and above said floor for fitting against lading supported on said load support members or said floor, said load support members being movable beneath said load dividers for positioning on either side of adjacent load dividers to support lading between a pair of said load dividers, said load support members being stored beneath adjacent load dividers and thereby removed from the area between the load dividers when steel coils and the like are being transported on the floor of said flatcar in the pocket between adjacent load dividers.

4. A railway flatcar comprising, a center sill extending the length of the car, a side sill structure extending along each side of the car, a floor sloping downwardly from each side sill structure to the center sill to provide a pocket centrally of the width of the car and extending the length of the car to support steel coils and the like, a plurality of load dividers mounted on said side sill structures for selective movement longitudinally of the car and extending transversely of the car, a plurality of lower load support members between each pair of load dividers mounted on said side sill structures inwardly of the load dividers for movement longitudinally of the car and extending transversely of the car over the pocket formed by said floor, the upper surfaces of a plurality of load support members between adjacent load dividers forming a separate generally horizontal load support surface between the adjacent load dividers and above the sloping floor to support lading of a generally rectangular cross section thereon, said load dividers extending vertically above said separate load support surface and above said floor for fitting against lading supported on said load support members or said floor, and means to permit movement of said load support members along said side sill structures away from the area between adjacent load dividers when steel coils and generally cylindrical objects are being transported in the pocket between the adjacent load dividers.

5. A railway flatcar as set forth in claim 2 wherein the width of a load divider is around at least twice the width of an adjacent load support member with a pair of load support members being movable beneath an adjacent load divider into a stored position when not supporting lading on the flatcar. 

1. A railway flatcar comprising, a lower floor on the car for supporting lading thereon, outer guide means extending longitudinally of the car adjacent each side thereof, at least two movable load dividers mounted on said outer guide means for selective movement longitudinally of the car and extending transversely of the car, inner guide means extending longitudinally of the car adjacent each side thereof and spaced inwardly of said outer guide means, and a plurality of lower load support members mounted on said inner guide means above said floor for movement longitudinally of the car and for positioning at selected intervals along the length of the car, said plurality of lower load support members being positioned between said pair of load dividers and having upper surfaces forming a separate generally horizontal load support surface between the load dividers and above the floor to support lading thereon, said load dividers extending above the floor and above the separate load support surface for fitting against lading supported on said floor or on said load support members, said load support members being movable along said inner guide means beneath said load dividers in a stored position when lading is supported on said floor between the pair of load dividers.
 2. A railway flatcar comprising, a center sill extending the length of the car, a side sill structure extending along each side of the car, a floor sloping downwardly from each side sill structure to the center sill to provide a pocket centrally of the width of the car and extending the length of the car to support steel coils and the like, a plurality of load dividers mounted on said side sill structures for selective movement longitudinally of the car and extending Transversely of the car, and a plurality of lower load support members between each adjacent pair of load dividers mounted on said side sill structures inwardly of the load dividers for movement longitudinally of the car and extending transversely of the car over the pocket formed by said floor, each plurality of load support members between a pair of adjacent load dividers having upper surfaces forming a separate generally horizontal load support surface between the adjacent load dividers and above the sloping floor to support lading of a generally rectangular cross section thereon, said load dividers extending vertically above said separate load support surface and above said floor for fitting against lading supported on said load support members or said floor, said load support members being movable beneath said load dividers into a stored position when not supporting lading on said flatcar, and movable away from said load dividers in longitudinally spaced relation thereto to support lading on said separate load support surface between a pair of said load dividers.
 3. A railway flatcar comprising, a center sill extending the length of the car, a side sill structure extending along each side of the car, a floor sloping downwardly from each side sill structure to the center sill to provide a pocket centrally of the width of the car and extending the length of the car to support steel coils and the like, a plurality of load dividers mounted on said side sill structures for selective movement longitudinally of the car and extending transversely of the car for fitting against lading positioned on said car, means for releasably securing said load dividers to said side sill structures, a plurality of lower load support members between each pair of adjacent load dividers mounted on said side sill structures inwardly of the load dividers for movement longitudinally of the car and extending transversely of the car over the pocket formed by said floor, and means for releasably securing said load support members to said side sill structures, the upper surfaces of a plurality of load support members between adjacent load dividers forming a separate generally horizontal load support surface between the adjacent load dividers and above the sloping floor to support lading thereon, said load dividers extending vertically above said separate load support surface and above said floor for fitting against lading supported on said load support members or said floor, said load support members being movable beneath said load dividers for positioning on either side of adjacent load dividers to support lading between a pair of said load dividers, said load support members being stored beneath adjacent load dividers and thereby removed from the area between the load dividers when steel coils and the like are being transported on the floor of said flatcar in the pocket between adjacent load dividers.
 4. A railway flatcar comprising, a center sill extending the length of the car, a side sill structure extending along each side of the car, a floor sloping downwardly from each side sill structure to the center sill to provide a pocket centrally of the width of the car and extending the length of the car to support steel coils and the like, a plurality of load dividers mounted on said side sill structures for selective movement longitudinally of the car and extending transversely of the car, a plurality of lower load support members between each pair of load dividers mounted on said side sill structures inwardly of the load dividers for movement longitudinally of the car and extending transversely of the car over the pocket formed by said floor, the upper surfaces of a plurality of load support members between adjacent load dividers forming a separate generally horizontal load support surface between the adjacent load dividers and above the sloping floor to support lading of a generally rectangular cross section thereon, said load dividers extending vertically above said separate load support surface and Above said floor for fitting against lading supported on said load support members or said floor, and means to permit movement of said load support members along said side sill structures away from the area between adjacent load dividers when steel coils and generally cylindrical objects are being transported in the pocket between the adjacent load dividers.
 5. A railway flatcar as set forth in claim 2 wherein the width of a load divider is around at least twice the width of an adjacent load support member with a pair of load support members being movable beneath an adjacent load divider into a stored position when not supporting lading on the flatcar. 